T HE G REEN W AVE G AZETTE
P AGE 6
Freshman Year: It’s Like Breakfast for High School
Many think it's the most important year
Hailee McClafferty
Contributor
Freshmen AHS students during their
recent library orientation. (Photo by
Mrs. Crowley)
“F RESHMAN
YEAR MADE ME
REALIZE THAT
HIGH SCHOOL
WAS SETTING ME
UP FOR THE
REAL WORLD .”
B AILEY
C ARLSON
Freshman year is nerve-racking for
everyone. Most students that have
been through it would probably agree.
It’s the beginning of a new chapter in
their lives. It’s where they start to plan
their futures and prepare for college
and real life. Once you start high
school, you’re going to be working
your hardest to keep up.
Of course, each student will have a
different experience. Some will struggle with the work load and have concerns beyond the classroom, while
others will focus more on academics
and keeping up with the work. They
will set their own paths freshman year.
The decisions they make during freshman year will set the tone for rest of
high school, whether they be positive
or negative.
We interviewed two Abington High
School students about their freshman
year: one former and one current. Bailey Carlson is senior and
Robert McClafferty (the writer’s
brother) is a graduate (Class of 2014).
McClafferty was ultimately successful
at balancing varsity sports with a chal-
lenging academic schedule, while
Carlson got behind early and had to
play catch up to get back on track to
graduate.
Like most, McClafferty thought entering high school was a real eye-opener.
“It makes (you) realize the amount of
work and effort you need to succeed in
and out of the classroom,” said
McClafferty. Most freshmen want to
make a good impression and let the
teachers and staff know where they
stand. Some students like to form
relationships with teachers and fellow
students. “It’s always nice to have
someone in your corner,” said
McClafferty. Students sometimes need
help, whether it’s academically or
athletically. In McClafferty’s case, it
was both. “My (soccer) coach, John
McGinness, really stood by me and
encouraged me throughout my
(freshman year),” said McClafferty.
But, he was also worried about whether or not he was prepared to move on
to sophomore year. “The teachers
were tough, but fair in preparing me
for what was to come,” said
McClafferty. Perhaps, the boost of
confidence provided by his coach and
teachers was all he needed.
Unfortunately, some freshmen like
Carlson, learn the hard way. She has
strong advice for anyone not motivated to do their best. “Do your work. I
didn’t, and I had to pay for it. I had to
double my classes because I failed all of
them freshman year,” said Carlson.
And luckily that was a wake-up call for
her. “Freshman year made me realize
that high school was setting me up for
the real world,” said Carlson. She
knew she had to get back on track.
Carlson ѽ